Osmo-anticathodic vacuum-regulator for x-ray tubes.



G. REGAUD. OSMO-ANTIGATHODIO VACUUM REGULATOR r011 x-RAY TUBES.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 9, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

2 SHEETS-BR11112131- FIGJ M 4 a E G. REGAUD.

. OSMO-ANTIOATHODIO VACUUM REGULATOR FOR X-RAY TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIGJ- PIC-3.5

W WWW UNITED sTA rss PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDIUS BEG-A171), OF LYON, FRANCE.

OSMO-ANTICATHODIC VACUUM-REGULATOR FOR X-RAY TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May12, 1914.

Application filed April 9, 1912. Serial No. 689,515.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLAUDIUS REGAUD, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Lyon, in the Republic of France, have invented a certain new or Improved Osmo- Anticathodic Vacuum-Regulator for X-Ray Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved osmo-anticathodic vacuum regulator for X ray tubes.

It is known that in the interior of any tubular producer of X rays the operation thereof produces a progressive reduction of the quantity of gas contained therein, the increase in'the degree of vacuum causing the phenomenon known as hardening of the ,use or o ration it is necessar to com ensatethe consumption of gas by the introduction or liberation of small quantities of gas, at suitable times into the interior of the tube. Any device which permits of maintainin or reestablishing the necessary pressure 0 gas within the interior of an X ray tube, is termed a regulator. It is further known that a plate of platinum (or of certain other metals less frequently. emplig'ed than said platinum) imperviousto hy rogen gas when in a cold condition, becomes pervious to said gas when heated to a sufficient degree. Villard first appliedthis phenomenon to maintain or reestablish the necessary quantity of gas in the interior of an X ray tube, and his osmo-regulator con sists of a platinum tube soldered to the ra diating bulb, said tube being closed at its free end and communicating at the other end with the interior of the bulb. When said tube is heated by means of an exterior flame, minute quantities of hydrogen contained in the gas of the flame are caused to regulation of the vacuum will be effected either as desired or automatically by the action of the X ray bulb itself.

The invention can be carried out in several ways, but it is necessary to consider, firstly, examples of various methods of arrangin the osmo-anti'cathodic member and of causlng the hydrogen to come in contact therewith, and secondly, the relations which ma exist between the osmo-regulative anticatiode and the anti-cathode serving for the emission of the X rays.

To consider the first factor, viz. various arrangements of the osmo-anticathodic member and the circulation of gas in contact therewith.

The Figures 1,- 2 and 8 of the annexed drawin are sections, and Fig. 3 a detail view slowing examples which may be equally Well applied in cases where the osmo-regulative anticathode serves at the same time for the emission of X rays and also to cases where this anti-cathode is exclusively used for regulating purposes. In the latter case the anticathode is housed, in a branch communicating with the bulb. In all these figures the parts formed of glass are indicated by fine lines, the various metal parts by less fine lines, and parts of latinum by heavy lines. Fig. 4. is a modication' in which the improved cathode is used exclusively for regu atingpurposes.

In Fig. 1, which relates to the first example, the anticathode comprises a cylindrical nipple f of platinum soldered at its edge to a lass tube b, which traverses and is fused nto the wall of the bulb a (or into the branch 12, of the bulb which incloses the regulator). The branch 6, terminates exteriorly in a lar e orifice surrounded by a metal collar 0 and closed by a rubber plug 7.: provided with two holes. Ametal wire 6 connects the metal 0 to the platinum nipple f with which it is alone in contact, and is adapted to conduct the current (positive pole) from the terminal at connected to the high tension conductor, to the platinum nipple (which serves at the same time as an anode). g is a glass sleeve surrounding the tube of the anticathode and serving to prevent parasitic discharge. Two k and o" traverse the plug A: for in st and discharge of the gas respectively. The anticathode f is placed opposite the cathode p and the latter is so disposed that the cathodic rays directly strike the surface of said lass tubes In the construction shown in Fig. 2 theanticathode consists of a metal casing 1. having for example the form of a short cylinder. The anticathodic wall f, of said casing is formed of a plate of platinum. The remainder of the casing may be formed of a metal other than platinum but capable of being welded thereto. In the rear face of the easing are two orifices which form communications with two metal tubes h and of small diameter which, connected to one another in the axis of the branch I), traverse a metal ca 0, at the end of said branch and then eac open to the exterior. At the parts which traverse the cap 0, the said tubes may be formed of a metal capableot' bein securely welded to glass (such as platinum The two connected tubes h and z' serve for inlet and discharge of gas respectively, and further serve both to maintain the anticathode in place and to conduct the high tension current Spositive pole) to said anticathode. g and n esignate glass sleeves surrounding the anticathode and the tubes h a respectively. The operation of the osmo-regulative anticathode is the same as in the form shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 which relates to a third example, the anticathode consists of a metal plate 8 shown in end elevation in Fig. 3, on the anti-cathodic surface of which there is arranged by bending same, a platinum tube 75. The said tube 1s continued by or in connection at its two ends with two metal tubes it and 2', serving respectively for inlet and discharge of the gas and which behind the anticathode as well as outside the bulb are arranged in a similar manner to the construction described with reference to Fig. 2. The platinum tube 25 through which the osmotic gas is introduced, is heated directly by the action of the oathodic rays from the cathode p. The metal plate 8 acts to arrest the cathodic rays which are not encountered by the said platinum tube It.

All the arrangements above described only differ from one another by the construction of the osmo-anticathodic surface, the manner in which the same is connected to the wall of the bulb and the means used for the inlet and. discharge of the gas, but the cathode producing both the X rays and the regulation. In this case, it is clear that the anticathode must be sufficiently strong to sustain the prolonged shocks of cathodic rays, and must also include or comprise cooling devices necessary to prevent its fusion and destruction during prolonged operation. The bulb being in operation, if it is desired to'soften its eliect, osmotic gasmust be injected through the inlet tube It, and the osmose be arrested by subsequently injecting an inert gas which will sweep away the first gas.

In the second case, which is illustrated in section in Fi 4 of the drawings, and which would proba ly be more suitable and most frequently employed, the regulating device is entirely distinct from that for the emission of X rays, the bulb being provided with two cathodes p and two anticathodes f, one cathodeand one anticathode servin exclusively for the emission of X rays while another cathode and anticathode serve exclusively for the regulation. In other words the apparatus will comprise two bulbs a a, joined together, the larger one a serving for the production of X rays, and the other smaller one a constituting an annex to the first and serving exclusively for the regulation of the bulb producing the rays. Such would be the case for example in anticathodic bulbs cooled by water, as shown in connection with the bulb a.

The details of construction of the regulating bulb and appurtenant parts are shown as similar to those described with reference to Fig. 1, but may be similar to those shown in the other figures if desired.

' What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-- y

1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tube, a cathode therein, an anticathode within said tube, said anticathode being formed of osmotic material and being positioned directly in the path of the electrical discharge from said cathode, and means to conduct a gas into operative relation to said anticathode.

' 2. In apparatus of the class described, incombination, a tube, a cathode therein, an antieathode within said tube, said anticath-- ode being formed of osmotic material and positioned opposite to said cathode whereby the electrical discharge from said cathode will fall directly upon said anticathode to heat the same, and means for conducting a gas into operative relation to said anticathode.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combinatlon, a tube, a cathode therein, an anticathode within said tube and formed of osmotic material, electrical conductors connected to said cathode and to said anticathode, and means for conducting a as into operative relation to said anticatho e.

v 4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tube, a cathode therein, a hollow chamber comprising an osmotic wall forming an anticathode and disposed in the IIGSSGS.

direct path of the electrical dischar es from said cathode and means for intro ucing a gas into said hollow chamber. 4

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a tube, a cathode therein, a hollow chamber comprising an osmotic wall forming an anticathode and dis osed in the direct path of the electrical disc arges from said cathode, said hollow chamber being provided with a gas inlet and with a gas outlet.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two wit- CLAUDIUS REGAUD. Witnesses:

GASTON J EANNIAUX,

MARIUB MERMAZ. 

